Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network

Four important developments to note here, as we approach the end of 2024.

First: Spotlight on Corruption (a founding member of this network) won a major open justice precedent in a case involving allegations of Ministry of Defence cover up and collusion in a defence bribery scheme in Saudi Arabia – for the first time in the UK courts, a public interest group has won the right to publish transcripts and evidence.

Second, the Judiciary’s Transparency and Open Justice Board – established earlier this year – is seeking views on the Board’s proposed key objectives. Announcement and links to objectives and explanatory notes here. The closing date for responses is 28 February 2025.

Third, as Louise Tickle reports here for Tortoise, the media has been granted permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge a High Court ruling prohibiting reporters from identifying judges involved in three sets of family court proceedings in the Sara Sharif case. The application for permission to appeal was made by the journalists Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers and supported by Tortoise. Joshua Rozenberg has also been following the application on his Substack.

Lastly, Transform Justice, another founding member of our network, will be re-starting its CourtWatch London project in early 2025. Sign up here to receive updates about the project including training for volunteer courtwatchers.